Floating toss game

ABSTRACT

A pair of Styrofoam floating asymmetric targets are advantageously selectively tethered to either a side of the swimming pool or to the bottom of the swimming pool to maintain their spacing and alignment, facilitating a tossing game such as “cornhole” or “toss across” that are generally known for use on land.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

The present application claims the benefit of U.S. Pat. Appln Ser. No.60/675,364 of the same title filed on 27 Apr. 2005, the disclosure ofwhich is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates, in general, to amusement devices used inswimming pools, and more particularly to tossing games that involve afloating goal.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Games played in swimming pools have long been popular. Some of theserequire an elaborate goal that is placed upon a hard surface or divingboard adjacent to the swimming pool, such as described in U.S. Pat. Nos.4,715,599 and 4,220,337. However, it is often inconvenient orundesirable to retrieve a ball or other thrown object from outside ofthe swimming pool. Some swimming pool games (e.g., water polo) avoidthis difficulty by including a goal that is in the water, yet supportedby the side of the pool, such as described in U.S. Pat. No. 6,220,975.Yet other games sit upon the bottom of the pool, such as described inU.S. Pat. No. 5,499,822. In addition, other games include a horizontallysymmetric goal that floats freely, typically a horizontal ring supportedupon three spaced support legs that attach a larger base ring thatsupports foam floats.

A popular game that is not played in a swimming pool is a “cornhole”game, such as described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,056,796, the disclosure ofwhich is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety, wherein anangled deck with a through hole serves as a target for bean bags,traditionally filled with dried corn kernels. Such games generallyrequire that a pair of such goals remain aligned toward each other at anominal spacing. This may be inconvenient for a portable game used inswimming pools or bodies of water of varying dimensions.

Consequently, a significant need exists for a swimming pool tossing gamewherein a floating target goal may be easily tethered for alignment witha player.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The invention overcomes the above-noted and other deficiencies of theprior art by providing a floating target having an angled deck thatfloats. An aperture in the angled deck, as well as the deck itself,serve as a means for scoring tossed objects thrown at the floatingtarget. A tether maintains the target in position. Thereby the targetgoal may be temporarily anchored and aligned at a desired position in abody of water, such as a swimming pool. Thereby, an amusing game may beplayed without the target floating away, rotating away from an optimumalignment, or necessarily requiring support from the side of theswimming pool.

In one aspect of the invention, a game apparatus and method use a pairof targets with two sets of buoyant tossing objects to play the game.

These and other objects and advantages of the present invention shall bemade apparent from the accompanying drawings and the descriptionthereof.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and constitute apart of this specification, illustrate embodiments of the invention,and, together with the general description of the invention given above,and the detailed description of the embodiments given below, serve toexplain the principles of the present invention.

FIG. 1 is a perspective environmental view of a swimming pool partiallycut away wherein a pair of asymmetric floating targets consistent withaspects of the invention are spaced apart and aligned with each otherfor playing a tossing game, one target being temporarily anchored to aside of the swimming pool and the other to a position away from theopposite side.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the target of FIG. 1.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

In FIGS. 1-2, a pair of asymmetric targets 10 each include an angleddeck 12 supported by a vertical rectangular rear wall 14 and twovertical triangular lateral sides 16. A target through hole 18 in theangled deck is laterally centered and placed closer to a higher end 20.A top surface 22 of the angled deck 12 may advantageously include atexture that, in combination with a choice of tossed object (e.g., waterresistant bean bag) 24, provides a desired friction so that the tossedobject may have a desired tendency to come to rest on the angled deck 12yet be capable of sliding off.

In an illustrative version, each target is formed of Styrofoam or otherfloating, water resistant board-like materials of about 1.5 inches inthickness. The angled deck 12 is 24 inches wide by 30 inches long slopedupward at approximately 12 degrees. The target through hole 18 is 5inches in diameter and about 10 inches from the back (top) edge. Thepieces 12, 14, 16 may be integrally molded or assembled and affixed orfastened together. In addition, the rear wall 14 and lateral walls 16may be detachable (e.g., Velcro) so as to pack in a small volume. Thetop surface 22 may be a thin Styrofoam of denser compensation forwearability and friction as compared to the more buoyant other portions.The top surface 22 also lends itself to being readily printed withaesthetic colors and/or designs.

In addition, illustrative tossing objects 24 are “bags” filled withplastic pellets approximately 3 inches by 3 inches and flattened toabout ¾ inches thickness. The material of the “bags” would be suitablefor water play, and sewn around all four edges. Each game set wouldconsist of 8 bags—4 of one color and 4 of another color.

Each asymmetric target 10 includes a pair of anchors, comprising a leftand right tether cord 26, 28 tied to back left and right apertures 30formed in each lateral side 16 with the other end attached to arespective left and right weight 32, 34. In FIG. 1, it will be notedthat one asymmetric target 10 is tethered to a side 38 of a swimmingpool 40 whereas the other target 10′ is appropriately aligned and spacedaway by tethering to a bottom 42 of the swimming pool 40. Alternatively,the pair of targets 10, 10′ may be allowed to float free. An adjustmentspool 43 may be incorporated into each tether cord 26, 28 to provide adesired length so that the target 10 stays in a desired location. Theadjustment spool 43 may advantageously comprise a spring biased spoolthat tends to reel in slack, drawing the target 10 toward the side wallof the pool 40 or automatically adjusting to the water level when theweights 32, 34 are placed on the bottom 42 of the swimming pool 40.

The most common way the game is played is that either two individuals44, 44′ throw against each other, or two teams of two throw back andforth to team members at opposite asymmetric targets 10, 10′. Turns atthrowing are usually alternated between players, with points awarded for“splashing” (throwing into the target hole) and for landing the bags onthe game board. Games are scored to 21, with only one team scoring perturn by using the cancellation method (if “red” team lands 4 bags on theboard, and “blue” teams lands 3 bags on the board, the “red” team wouldscore 1 point). The team that most recently scored, starts throwing inthe next round. This is done until one team reaches 21 or more.

While the present invention has been illustrated by description ofseveral embodiments and while the illustrative embodiments have beendescribed in considerable detail, it is not the intention of theapplicant to restrict or in any way limit the scope of the appendedclaims to such detail. Additional advantages and modifications mayreadily appear to those skilled in the art. For example, Although thisgame is designed for water applications, it can also be used equally aswell in “dry” areas. This game would be equally as entertainingalongside the pool, in backyards, driveways, the beach, recreation areasand even indoors.

For example, rather than using weights 32, 34 to maintain the target 10in position, often swimming pools 40 include floating lane lines uponwhich the target 10 may straddle to maintain position.

It should be appreciated that other configurations of materials may beused, including nonbuoyant portions. Further, the asymmetric targets maybe of varying dimensions. Similarly, different objects can be used totoss at the target board. The “bags” can be substituted with sponges orother soft, water friendly objects. Further, rather than having a singletarget hole, the target may comprise a plurality of spinning targetmembers (e.g., three-side blank-X-O Tic-Tac-Toe targets) or a labeledtarget (e.g., dartboard).

It should be appreciated that any patent, publication, or otherdisclosure material, in whole or in part, that is said to beincorporated by reference herein is incorporated herein only to theextent that the incorporated material does not conflict with existingdefinitions, statements, or other disclosure material set forth in thisdisclosure. As such, and to the extent necessary, the disclosure asexplicitly set forth herein supersedes any conflicting materialincorporated herein by reference. Any material, or portion thereof, thatis said to be incorporated by reference herein, but which conflicts withexisting definitions, statements, or other disclosure material set forthherein will only be incorporated to the extent that no conflict arisesbetween that incorporated material and the existing disclosure material.

It should be appreciated that a version of the game may be played withonly one target.

It should be further appreciated that a plurality of tether linesattached to two or more spaced portions of a target may converge upon asingle weight, perhaps at spaced corners thereof, such that one weightmay sit upon the floor of the swimming pool and keep the target inposition and correctly oriented.

It should be further appreciated that other rules of game play may beemployed and that various orientations, sizes and numbers of targetholes may be incorporated consistent with aspects of the presentinvention. For instance, a skeeball or miniature golf target may beincorporated. Further, the type of thrown object (e.g., ball, bean bag)may be projected toward the target with use of a game instrument (e.g.,bat, club, Jai-Alai glove, etc.).

1. A device for placement in a body of water for playing a tossing game,comprising: a target deck; a support portion comprised of a plurality ofsides attached beneath the target deck to raise the target deck abovewater and including a buoyant portion; and a tether attached to thesupport portion.
 2. The device of claim 1, wherein the tether furthercomprises: a pair of tether lines attached to laterally spaced portionsof the support portion; and a pair of weights attached to respectivetether lines to temporarily position the device at a desired position inthe body of water.
 3. The device of claim 1, wherein the support portioncomprises a buoyant plastic foam.
 4. The device of claim 1, wherein thesupport portion comprises an angled support portion.
 5. The device ofclaim 4, wherein the target deck comprises a rectangular portion formedof a buoyant plastic foam.
 6. The device of claim 5, wherein the targetdeck further comprises a dense foam plastic wear surface.
 7. The deviceof claim 1, further comprising a length adjustment member attached toeach tether line.
 8. The device of claim 7, wherein the lengthadjustment member comprises a spool spring biased to retract slack inthe respective tether.
 9. A game apparatus for playing a tossing game,comprising: a first and second set of tossing objects; and a first andsecond target, each target comprising: a target deck, a support portioncomprised of a plurality of sides attached beneath the target deck toraise the target deck above water and including a buoyant portion, and atether attached to the support portion.
 10. The game apparatus of claim9, wherein the tether of each target further comprises: a pair of tetherlines attached to laterally spaced portions of the support portion; anda pair of weights attached to respective tether lines to temporarilyposition the device at a desired position in the body of water.
 11. Thegame apparatus of claim 9, wherein the support portion of each targetcomprises a buoyant plastic foam.
 12. The game apparatus of claim 9,wherein the support portion comprises an angled support portion.
 13. Thegame apparatus of claim 12, wherein the target deck of each targetcomprises a rectangular portion formed of a buoyant plastic foam. 14.The game apparatus of claim 13, wherein the target deck of each targetfurther comprises a dense foam plastic wear surface.
 15. The gameapparatus of claim 9, wherein each target further comprises a lengthadjustment member attached to each tether line.
 16. The game apparatusof claim 15, wherein the length adjustment member comprises a spoolspring biased to retract slack in the respective tether.
 17. The gameapparatus of claim 9, wherein each set of the first and second sets oftossing objects comprises a plurality of water resistant fabric bagsencompassing a plurality of buoyant, water resistant pellets.
 18. Amethod of playing a game, comprising: tethering a pair of buoyanttargets in a body of water, each target comprising an angled deck havingan aperture formed therein, each target spaced apart from the other andramped away from the other; having two teams of two participants, onefrom each team positioned proximate to a respective target; providing afirst set of a plurality of buoyant tossing objects of one ornamentationto one participant at a selected target and a providing a second set ofa plurality of buoyant tossing objects of another ornamentation to theother participant at the selected target; alternating throwing one fromeach set toward the other target until each set is exhausted; scoring bycounting tossing objects remaining on the other target and countingtossing objects that passed through the aperture in other target; andperforming the same procedure if a winning score is not reached byhaving the other participants throw their respective sets in alternatingfashion back toward the selected target.